Bethune-cookman College Begins Fund-raising Drive

May 12, 1985|By David Karpook of The Sentinel Staff

DAYTONA BEACH — Bethune-Cookman College officials on Friday announced the beginning of a drive to collect $500,000 by the end of September, the first leg in a three- phase $5 million capital fund drive to be conducted over the next three years. The 1,700-student school wants to raise the money to finance construction and renovation of classroom buildings, increase its endowment, develop a hospitality management program, and improve its other academic programs. Construction of several buildings is expected to begin in 1987, the final year of the campaign.

The private funds also will be used to help the college obtain grants from the federal government and foundations that require matching funds. Among the grants the college could receive are:

-- $250,000 from the Jessie Ball du Pont Foundation to build a science hall annex if the college raises $1.75 million.

-- $350,000 from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support the college's humanities endowment if the school raises another $700,000 for the endowment. -- $500,000 from the federal Title III program, which assists black colleges in building their endowments, if Bethune-Cookman matches with $500,000. The college recently qualified for a $250,000 Title III grant by raising $250,000, said Jo Ann Pyles, vice president for government.

Bethune-Cookman officials said they would like to increase its endowment from $3 million to $10 million over the next 10 years, Pyles said.

College President Oswald P. Bronson said Friday he believes the college will have no problem reaching either its $500,000 goal for September or the longer-range $5 million goal. ''The initial responses and indicators point to a very positive campaign.''

Bronson said early pledges indicate the school should exceed the September goal but he would not say how much has been pledged. Co-chairmen of the fund drive are E. William Crotty and Reid Hughes.

Pyle said the initial campaign will be limited to Volusia County so that the school can demonstrate a base of support in the area where it has had the greatest economic impact. After September it will be extended statewide and later nationwide.